What are the extreme conditions of space?
Extreme conditions in the ISS space environment include exposure to extreme heat and cold cycling, ultra-vacuum, atomic oxygen, and high energy radiation.
What organisms can live in extreme conditions?
Most extremophiles are microorganisms (and a high proportion of these are archaea), but this group also includes eukaryotes such as protists (e.g., algae, fungi and protozoa) and multicellular organisms. Archaea is the main group to thrive in extreme environments.
What is considered an extreme environment?
Definition. An extreme environment is a habitat characterized by harsh environmental conditions, beyond the optimal range for the development of humans, for example, pH 2 or 11, −20°C or 113°C, saturating salt concentrations, high radiation, 200 bars of pressure, among others.
What is the importance of space mission?
Human space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system. Through addressing the challenges related to human space exploration we expand technology, create new industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection with other nations.
Why is going to space dangerous?
The environment of space is lethal without appropriate protection: the greatest threat in the vacuum of space derives from the lack of oxygen and pressure, although temperature and radiation also pose risks. The effects of space exposure can result in ebullism, hypoxia, hypocapnia, and decompression sickness.
How does space exploration affect medicine and health?
Other areas of medicine that have benefited indirectly from space research are muscle physiology and disease, sleep regulation, robotic medicine, bacteria detection, wireless telemetry (transmitting data through space), and heart health.
How does space affect medicine?
The side effects of space travel “The immune system seems to become less active in microgravity with changes in stress hormonal levels, and the cardiovascular and respiratory systems adapt by redistributing blood and fluids from the lower to the upper body and decreasing its plasma volume and heart size.”
What is a space doctor called?
Aerospace physicians support the health, safety, and well-being of pilots, aircrews, and astronauts. With five accredited U.S. residency programs, space medicine is an attractive career option for physicians who want to practice preventative or occupational medicine with unique challenges.
Can astronauts do drugs in space?
While they certainly would work (at least short term) in helping astronauts sleep, they have side effects that could affect the astronaut’s ability to perform his/her job, especially in the “morning.” This side effect renders barbiturates and benzodiazepines likely unfit as treatments for space insomnia.